Texas gets $13M in emergency agriculture funding

Texas will receive almost $13 million in emergency assistance funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday announced about $308 million in aid to states. The money is coming from federal watershed and conservation emergency funds.

USDA Natural Resources Specialist Claude Ross tells The Associated Press that about half of that money earmarked for Texas will cover damage in South Texas from Hurricane Alex two summers ago.

The USDA initially said Texas would receive $12.5 million, but revised its figures later Wednesday.

Missouri and Utah will take in about $109 million together.

Vilsack says Texas has received other federal emergency money in the midst of a devastating drought and last year's wildfires. He says the latest grants were based on criteria that favored other states.